§ 1. Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to increase the period available for training of constables in order to operate the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 and to police domestic violence generally.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Ian Lang)The 1981 Act and the problem of domestic violence generally already feature prominently in the training programme at the Scottish police college. That programme is kept under regular review.
§ Mr. RossDoes the Minister really think that two 50-minute periods during an eight-week course are adequate when he says that the problem features prominently? Can he confirm that those two 50-minute periods take place? How can he assess the use of the video "Getting over the Fear", produced by Strathclyde regional council and Scottish Women's Aid, as an aid to the 246 training of the officers under the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act when the Scottish Office has neither borrowed nor purchased a copy of the video?
§ Mr. LangI can assure the hon. Gentleman that training is kept under careful consideration. Proper emphasis is given at the Scottish police college as well as at individual force level. The relevance of the video "Getting over the Fear" is being assessed at present by the Scottish police college.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeIn view of the drastic need for additional hostel accommodation for women who are the victims of domestic violence—I understand that at the moment there are 184 places in Scotland compared with a minimum of 500 recommended by a Select Committee over a decade ago—does the Minister agree that it is not simply a matter of detection and prosecution, important though it is, but is a matter of making adequate resources available so that we can deal with that dreadful problem of women's rights and the defence of them?
§ Mr. LangI should like to take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his first appearance at the Dispatch Box in his new role. The point that he raises is worthy of further consideration, although it does not relate directly to the question.